Exploring the San Diego Zoo: Essential Tips for Your Visit

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is one of the city’s biggest attractions, welcoming over five million visitors a year to explore its 100 acres of exhibits and habitats that are home to over 3,700 different animals. Known for its outstanding conservation program, this zoo boasts a friendly staff and a wide variety of over 700 unique species and subspecies under its care.

If you’re planning a trip to San Diego and seeking an enjoyable way to spend the day outdoors, a visit to the San Diego Zoo is a fantastic choice for families and solo travelers alike. From guided tours to engaging animal shows and encounters, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy inside the zoo, regardless of the season.

However, be prepared for the zoo to be bustling, especially during the summer months. Additional attractions and entertainment can add to the expense. Fortunately, there are several strategies for saving time and money on your visit—right from knowing the best times to go to discovering discounts on admission or attractions.

1. Ticketing, Discounts, and Coupons

Although there are several methods to secure tickets to the San Diego Zoo, the easiest way is to purchase them at the zoo’s entrance ticket booth. This typically means paying full price and waiting in line, especially during busy days. Nevertheless, your admission fee significantly contributes to funding the zoo’s wildlife conservation efforts, allowing you to feel good about spending a bit more at the gate.

If you organize your visit beforehand—particularly if planning to visit other attractions like the Safari Park—you could save money by purchasing combination passes, applying discounts for seniors, military personnel, or AAA members, or finding coupons online through sites such as RetailMeNot and Groupon. These discount programs can save you between 10% to 25% off your admission price.

2. Things You Can Do

The San Diego Zoo is segmented into various animal habitats connected by themed trails, some wheelchair accessible and marked with their distance, time, and level of difficulty. Notable attractions include Scripps Aviary, the Polar Bear Plunge, the Panda Trek, Tiger River, the underwater view of the hippopotamus pond, the Elephant Odyssey, and Australian Outback sections.

Moreover, visitors can enjoy more than just just observing the animals. A half-hour guided bus tour of the zoo provides insight from expert staff about the zoo’s layout and the animal residents. Furthermore, 4-D movie experiences and animal shows led by zookeepers can be both educational and entertaining. Although these come at an additional cost, special Animal Encounters allow guests to interact closely with many popular species. In addition, the zoo functions as a botanical garden featuring over 6,500 plant species, some of them even more exotic than the animals.

Exciting special programs are also held throughout the year, changing with the seasons. Their overnight sleepovers are a highlighted experience, including a tent for sleeping, dinner, evening snacks, and a hot breakfast. Check their website to see what programs are available during your stay, and ensure to secure your tickets in advance as special events tend to sell out quickly.

3. Preparing For Your Trip

You’ll need a minimum of three to four hours to fully experience the zoo; however, dedicating an entire day will allow you to explore the multitude of entertainment options, trails, and exhibits at your leisure. Consequently, visiting the Safari Park in the same day is not recommended as it’s approximately an hour away and takes at least six hours to explore just a portion of that larger park.

Upon arrival, take a moment to check the large billboard located near the entrance which indicates which exhibits are closed for the day and provides schedules for other activities. Because the zoo layout can be complex, it’s advised to consult a detailed map to plan your route effectively.

If you wish to maximize your visit, aim to arrive a few minutes before the zoo opens. This will allow you to get ahead of the crowds and potentially see zookeepers preparing the animals’ feed. Conversely, remember that the entrance gate closes two hours before the zoo’s official closing time, so avoid rushing in at the last minute.

For the safety of the animals, pets are not permitted within the zoo, and there are no kennels available for your furry friend. If you’re traveling with a pet, locate a local kennel or confirm with your hotel if it’s permissible to leave your animal in the room during your visit.

4. Food, Drink, and Comfort

Food and beverages at the San Diego Zoo can be costly, so if you’re keen to save some money during your visit, consider bringing your own lunch. This is particularly advisable if you have food allergies, as the zoo’s kitchens may not be equipped to keep allergenic ingredients separate.

While the zoo does permit guests to bring food items and water bottles, larger containers such as coolers are not allowed inside. Fortunately, a picnic area located outside the zoo allows coolers. Visitors can obtain a stamp at the gate for same-day re-entry to the park.

The climate in San Diego is generally warm and sunny throughout much of the year, so pack a hat and sunscreen. Although the zoo features many shady pathways and indoor exhibits to keep you cool, most attractions are outdoors in direct sunlight. Hence, remember to drink plenty of water and take regular breaks to avoid overheating.

The zoo’s terrain is also hilly and extensive (spanning 100 acres), which means that if you aim to walk every trail, you could be on your feet for at least three and a half hours. Therefore, choose your footwear wisely. During hotter days, it’s advisable to arrive early or plan your visit during the late afternoon to take advantage of later closing times in the summer.

5. Visiting the Zoo With Kids

Visiting the zoo with children brings unique challenges, especially when aiming to ensure that all desired exhibits are experienced.

To overcome this, it is advisable to set priorities before your trip by creating a list of animals you and your kids want to see, followed by planning your route using online maps of the park. Be sure to include a stop at the Children’s Zoo, which features numerous animals that are exclusive to that area.

When exploring the zoo with kids, aim to walk as much as possible at the onset of your day. Later, when fatigue sets in, you can utilize the Skyfari tram and the Kangaroo Express bus for transit. Ensure you retain your entry ticket as both transportation options necessitate presentation of the ticket upon boarding.

For those traveling with smaller children, the walkways are accessible to double-wide strollers; however, these larger strollers cannot be taken on the Skyfari tram. Even if your child typically walks, the zoo can be tiring—consider bringing your stroller or renting one on-site, even if you think it may go unused.

Moreover, diaper changing stations are available in most restrooms; and for nursing parents, the First Aid office adjacent to the Reptile House offers a private space and a microwave for warming up bottles and baby food.

6. Getting to the San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, California. The most accessible method of travel is by car.

If you experience difficulty finding parking, there is a valet service available near the entrance on busy days. After a long day, it can be easy to forget whether you parked near the ostrich or the elephant—so jot down your parking location or take a quick photo of the nearest sign.

If driving isn’t an option, you can take the Number 7 city bus, which has a stop at the zoo, or use the Old Town Trolley Tours bus service. Although the San Diego Trolley goes through downtown and Old Town, it doesn’t reach the zoo. It’s advisable to steer clear of local tour companies offering ticket/transportation packages, which often cost significantly more than standard ticket prices without a chance for discounts. In many cases, booking a car rental may actually be cheaper than one of these excursions.

As is customary in the travel industry, the author received complimentary tickets for the purpose of review. While this has not influenced the review, iBestTravel maintains a commitment to full disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest.